Spring Football Notebook

Robert Allen

03/29/2010

Reports this weekend in The Tulsa World about Cowboys redshirt freshman running back Jeremy Smith missing practice last week were true. However, it is not unusual for a player to miss practices in the spring for a variety of reasons. Speculation was running rampant over the status of Smith.

The Tulsa Union All-State running back played in one game last season and made it count when he rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries against Grambling. In that game he aggravated a shoulder injury from high school and his season was over following shoulder surgery. His rehab went well and he was cleared for the full participation in spring.

Smith was back on the practice field Monday, and while one Cowboy football source said as of this morning it looked like he might be done at Oklahoma State, it appears that verdict was premature. Smith has loads of talent and would look to have a major role in the offense even in the change of offensive schemes.

Spring Practice or Spring Training?

For five years of Brandon Weeden's life it was spring training as the former New York Yankees draft pick was in Florida and then Arizona for spring training, and Weeden enjoyed it. Well, he enjoyed a lot of it.

"Absolutely, it's going to be in me forever," said Weeden, who also played in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals organizations.

"It doesn't really even dawn on me until my brother leaves, but once Ty leaves (for spring training with Boston), I think golly, it's already time to get going. You just kind of get used to it after five years. I don't miss my arm hurting every night when I go to bed."

The question is now with the quarterbacks throwing so many more balls in drills and throughout practice does his arm get sore from throing the football?

"It's amazing, I'd like to have a little pitch count because I bet we throw close to 300 passes a day in practice," said Weeden. "That's part of this offense. It feels good so far but we had that week for spring break, so it will be interesting how it feels this week."

Cowboys Clinic This Friday

The Oklahoma State Cowboy coaching staff will host its annual coaches clinic Friday. The clinic, which is open to all coaches, costs $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Friday.

Speakers will include standout Oklahoma high school coaches like Glenpool head coach Steve Edwards and his defensive coordinator and Guthrie head coach Rafe Watkins and his defensive coordinator.

Also, two of the winningest coaches in Texas, Jim Sweeney of San Antonio Madison and David Aymond of Galena Park North Shore, will attend, along with coaches on their staffs.

That night the Oklahoma State coaches will conduct clinic sessions and exchange ideas with the coaches in attendance. The clinic includes two meals, lunch and dinner, and a social following the evening clinic sessions.

For more information contact Johnny Barr in the OKlahoma State football office (405) 744-5737.

OSU Hires New Head Of Athletic Compliance

Dana Holgorsen isn't the only one changing addresses from the University of Houston to Oklahoma State. OSU announced Monday the hiring of Kevin Fite as associate athletic director for compliance.

Fite has spent the last nine years as associate athletic director for compliance and eligiblity at Houston. Prior to that, he spent six years at the NCAA as a student-athlete reinstatement representative and an enforcement representative.

Fite, however, knows his way around Stillwater. He served in academic services for student-athletes at Oklahoma State from 1991 to 1994 before joining the NCAA.